2011 Cadillac ESCALADE ESV

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Excellent Reliability

Quick Summary

The 2011 Cadillac ESCALADE ESV has 18 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.2x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (28% of all complaints), specifically: takata recall gm says vehicle is safe to drive. i don't feel safe in the vehicle though i have no other options. i have four daughters ages 4 to 10 years old. their safety is paramount to me. according to gm i have been advise not to take action. and i will be notified when the part becomes ava.

5 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.2x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

AIR BAGS

5 complaints

28%

• TAKATA RECALL GM SAYS VEHICLE IS SAFE TO DRIVE. I DON'T FEEL SAFE IN THE VEHICLE THOUGH I HAVE NO OTHER OPTIONS. I HAVE FOUR DAUGHTERS AGES 4 TO 10 YEARS OLD. THEIR SAFETY IS PARAMOUNT TO ME. ACCORDING TO GM I HAVE BEEN ADVISE NOT TO TAKE ACTION. AND I WILL BE NOTIFIED WHEN THE PART BECOMES AVA
• TAKATA RECALL .I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE. THIS IS TRAVELING VEHICLE SO IT WOULD NORMALLY BE ON HIGHWAYS AT OVER 50 MILES AN HOUR. QUESTION WOULD I BE SAFER TO HAVE THIS DISCONNECTED? WHO COULD DO THIS. I LIKE MOST PEOPLE CAN NOT AFFORD TO TRADE VEHICLES AND REALLY WOULD RATHER NOT. NOW THE C
• TAKATA RECALL I HAD MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS WITH TWO OF THE LOCAL CADILLAC DEALERS TO GET THE RECALL SOLVED BUT CONTINUE TO GET THE SAME RESPONSE; "THE RECALL ISN'T A SAFETY ISSUE!" AS OF YET, THERE HAS BEEN NO CONTACT MADE BY ANY OF THE DEALERS ON GETTING THE MATTER RESOLVED AND INSTEAD SOME OF T

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TAKATA RECALL GM SAYS VEHICLE IS SAFE TO DRIVE. I DON'T FEEL SAFE IN THE VEHICLE THOUGH I HAVE NO OTHER OPTIONS. I HAVE FOUR DAUGHTERS AGES 4 TO 10 YEARS OLD. THEIR SAFETY IS PARAMOUNT TO ME. ACCORDING TO GM I HAVE BEEN ADVISE NOT TO TAKE ACTION. AND I WILL BE NOTIFIED WHEN THE PART BECOMES AVA”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

4 complaints

22%

• 2011 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV 26771 POWER REAR CARGO DOOR IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. SON WAS SERIOUSLY HURT AT AIRPORT LUGGAGE CLAIMS WHEN A POWER REAR CARGO DOOR WAS CLOSING CAME DOWN ON HIS HEAD AND FACE WITH OUT WARNING OF ANY KIND THAT THIS DOOR WAS CLOSING. THE DOOR IS SO LARGE AND HEAVY AS IT CO
• 2011 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV 26771 POWER REAR CARGO DOOR IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. SON WAS SERIOUSLY HURT AT AIRPORT LUGGAGE CLAIMS WHEN A POWER REAR CARGO DOOR WAS CLOSING CAME DOWN ON HIS HEAD AND FACE WITH OUT WARNING OF ANY KIND THAT THIS DOOR WAS CLOSING. THE DOOR IS SO LARGE AND HEAVY. IT COME
• THE REAR HATCH WAS OPENED WITH THE AUTOMATIC BUTTON, IT RAISED TO THE OPEN POSITION. AS I WAS PUTTING IN OUR STROLLER THE HATCH FELL AND STRUCK ME IN THE HEAD. I PUSHED THE HATCH UP TO GET FROM UNDERNEATH IT, AND WHEN I LET GO IT FELL WITH NO RESISTANCE. WHILE FALLING SHUT THE HATCH HIT THE PASSEN

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“2011 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV 26771 POWER REAR CARGO DOOR IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. SON WAS SERIOUSLY HURT AT AIRPORT LUGGAGE CLAIMS WHEN A POWER REAR CARGO DOOR WAS CLOSING CAME DOWN ON HIS HEAD AND FACE WITH OUT WARNING OF ANY KIND THAT THIS DOOR WAS CLOSING. THE DOOR IS SO LARGE AND HEAVY AS IT CO”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

3 complaints

17%

• 2011 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV 26771 POWER REAR CARGO DOOR IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. SON WAS SERIOUSLY HURT AT AIRPORT LUGGAGE CLAIMS WHEN A POWER REAR CARGO DOOR WAS CLOSING CAME DOWN ON HIS HEAD AND FACE WITH OUT WARNING OF ANY KIND THAT THIS DOOR WAS CLOSING. THE DOOR IS SO LARGE AND HEAVY AS IT CO
• 2011 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV 26771 POWER REAR CARGO DOOR IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. SON WAS SERIOUSLY HURT AT AIRPORT LUGGAGE CLAIMS WHEN A POWER REAR CARGO DOOR WAS CLOSING CAME DOWN ON HIS HEAD AND FACE WITH OUT WARNING OF ANY KIND THAT THIS DOOR WAS CLOSING. THE DOOR IS SO LARGE AND HEAVY. IT COME
• DOOR HANDLE FOR ALL DOORS BREAK OFF WITH OR WITHOUT AN MOTOR VEHICLE COLLISION. SELF-EXTRACATION FROM VEHICLE IS UNLIKELY WITHOUT REPAIR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

2 complaints

11%

• CONNECTOR TO SEAT CONTROL MODULE LOCATED UNDER PASSENGER SEAT SHORTED OUT AND MELTED WITHOUT FUSE INTERRUPTION. MELTED CONNECTOR FOUND WHEN HEATED SEAT FUNCTION STOPPED WORKING. SEVERAL VEHICLE FORUMS AND YOUTUBE VIDEOS DESCRIBE SAME EXPERIENCE AND POTENTIAL "FIXES". OTHERS REPORT THIS OVERHEATING I
• HEATED SEAT MODULE AND WIRING MELTED. FIRE CONCERNS. MANY VEHICLES AFFECTED

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“CONNECTOR TO SEAT CONTROL MODULE LOCATED UNDER PASSENGER SEAT SHORTED OUT AND MELTED WITHOUT FUSE INTERRUPTION. MELTED CONNECTOR FOUND WHEN HEATED SEAT FUNCTION STOPPED WORKING. SEVERAL VEHICLE FORUMS AND YOUTUBE VIDEOS DESCRIBE SAME EXPERIENCE AND POTENTIAL "FIXES". OTHERS REPORT THIS OVERHEATING I”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SEATS/RESTRAINTS

2 complaints

11%

• CONNECTOR TO SEAT CONTROL MODULE LOCATED UNDER PASSENGER SEAT SHORTED OUT AND MELTED WITHOUT FUSE INTERRUPTION. MELTED CONNECTOR FOUND WHEN HEATED SEAT FUNCTION STOPPED WORKING. SEVERAL VEHICLE FORUMS AND YOUTUBE VIDEOS DESCRIBE SAME EXPERIENCE AND POTENTIAL "FIXES". OTHERS REPORT THIS OVERHEATING I
• HEATED SEAT MODULE AND WIRING MELTED. FIRE CONCERNS. MANY VEHICLES AFFECTED

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

SEATS/RESTRAINTS(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 18 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
AIR BAGS: TAKATA RECALL GM SAYS VEHICLE IS SAFE TO DRIVE. I DON'T FEEL SAFE IN THE VEHICLE THOUGH I HAVE NO OTHER OPTIONS. I HAVE FOUR DAUGHTERS AGES 4 TO 10 YEARS OLD. THEIR SAFETY IS PARAMOUNT TO ME. ACCORDING TO GM I HAVE BEEN ADVISE NOT TO TAKE ACTION. AND I WILL BE NOTIFIED WHEN THE PART BECOMES AVA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BODY/STRUCTURE: 2011 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV 26771 POWER REAR CARGO DOOR IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. SON WAS SERIOUSLY HURT AT AIRPORT LUGGAGE CLAIMS WHEN A POWER REAR CARGO DOOR WAS CLOSING CAME DOWN ON HIS HEAD AND FACE WITH OUT WARNING OF ANY KIND THAT THIS DOOR WAS CLOSING. THE DOOR IS SO LARGE AND HEAVY AS IT CO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: 2011 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV 26771 POWER REAR CARGO DOOR IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. SON WAS SERIOUSLY HURT AT AIRPORT LUGGAGE CLAIMS WHEN A POWER REAR CARGO DOOR WAS CLOSING CAME DOWN ON HIS HEAD AND FACE WITH OUT WARNING OF ANY KIND THAT THIS DOOR WAS CLOSING. THE DOOR IS SO LARGE AND HEAVY AS IT CO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: CONNECTOR TO SEAT CONTROL MODULE LOCATED UNDER PASSENGER SEAT SHORTED OUT AND MELTED WITHOUT FUSE INTERRUPTION. MELTED CONNECTOR FOUND WHEN HEATED SEAT FUNCTION STOPPED WORKING. SEVERAL VEHICLE FORUMS AND YOUTUBE VIDEOS DESCRIBE SAME EXPERIENCE AND POTENTIAL "FIXES". OTHERS REPORT THIS OVERHEATING I
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)